Electrical hose-signaling apparatus.



No. 696,529. Patented Apr. I902.

G. G. WEITZ.

ELECTRICAL HOSE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 1900.)

(N0 Model.)

'rnrns Parent rrrcn GEORGE G. 'WEITZ, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR "0 THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC HOSE SIGNALING COMPANY, OF BOSTON,MAS- SACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRICAL HOSE-SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,529, dated April 1,1902. Application filed December 5, 1900- Serial No. 38,776. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE G.WEITZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Med ford, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrical Hose-Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to electric signaling apparatus such as is usedinconnection with fire-hose to enable the hosemen to transmit signals fromthe nozzle of the hose to the engine, pump, or other source of supply,and is herein shown and described as applied to firehose of that kind inwhich the body portions of the coulplings themselves are included in andform a part of the electric circuit, such being the common construction.

The features of my invention relate more particularly to theconstruction of the couplings themselves and of their attachedelectrical connections, a main feature being designed to improve uponprior couplings in respect to the insulation of the electric-circuitconnections and to their protection from accident. V,

Other features of my invention relate to the construction of thecontact-terminals themselves and to packing devices whereby the escapeof water between and around the couplings may be prevented.

A preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which-- Figure l is a central longitudinal section throughthe two parts of a coupling united. Figs. 2 and 3 are transversesections taken on the lines at at and 11 y, respectively, in Fig. 1.Figs. 4 and 5 are detail Views on an enlarged scale, showing one of thecontact-terminals hereinafter described; and Fig. 6 is an enlargeddetail view in section of the cooperating contact-terminal.

Except as hereinafter described, the two halves 2 and 3 of the couplingproper are of the usual construction, one of the half-couplings, as 2,having a swiveled screw-threaded collar 4, adapted to engage thescrew-threaded end of the half-couplings 3 in the usual manner when theparts are coupled together. To each of the half-couplings 2 and 3 theend of a length of hose 5 is secured by expanding a collar 6 against theinside of the hose, and thereby tightly clamping it against thesurrounding end of the half-coupling, as shown, or in any other suitablemanner. The insulated wires '7 and 8, which are included in and formparts of the circuit leading to the hose-nozzle, extend along each hoselength between the half-couplings secured thereto and are preferablyembedded in the body of the hose itself, so that they will not belocated within the waterway, but will be protected by the hose itselffrom the water and from accidental damage. One of the wires, as 7, issecured at its ends directly to the half-couplings to which it leads, asat 9, so that each coupling is itself made to form a part of thecircuit, and the otherwire Sis secured at its ends to insulatedcontact-terminals presently to be described.

It happens occasionally that the end of a length of hose becomes partlyor wholly detached orstarted away from the half-coupling to which it isnormally secured by reason of accidents to which the hose is exposedwhen in use, and one of the features of my invention is intended toprevent injury to the contact-terminals and to preserve the continuityof the electric circuit in case such an accident occurs. To this end Iform one or more coils or loops in one or both of the wires 7 and 8 neartheir ends, said ends being attached to the corresponding circnit-terminals, so that in case the end of the hose is accidentallypulled away from the coupling it will result merely in straightening outthe coils or loops referred to, and hence will not put any strain on theconnections between the ends of the wires and their respective terminalconnections sufficient to separate the same. Thus, as shown, the wire 7is provided with a number of loops 10, located within the half-coupling3between the hose and the point of attachment 9, and the wire 8 iscoiled circumferentially adjacent to the end of the hose, as at 11. Forthe reception of the coil 11 I prefer to provide a groove 12 in theannular abutment 13, commonly found in each halfcoupling, in whichgroove the coil 11 is cemented. I also prefer to place one or morerubber rings or washers 14 between the abutment 13 and the end of thehose, thereby forming a packing for preventing the leakage of wateraround the end of the hose and out between it and that portion of thecoupling which surrounds it. This rubber packing let being yielding andreadily removable from its position after the hose has been removed willnot interfere with the straightening out of the coil 11 in case ofaccident, as above described.

Iconstructtheinsulatedcircuit-terminals of my coupling as follows: Aring 15, of hard rubber or other insulating material, has a metal ring16 embedded in it and is driven into the suitably-recessed end of thehalf-coupling 3, the ring 16 being provided at its outer end with aflange 17, which is thus located at the top edge of said ring 15 and isthereby insulated from the body of the coupling. One end of the wire 8is carried through the abutment 13, as at 18, and through a hole drilledlongitudinally through the ring 15 and is secured to the metal flange17, which is thus adapted to act as a contact-terminal and is securelyheld in place by the ring 16, embedded in insulation. A rubberpacking-ring 19 is carried by and covers the outer face 20 of theannular abutment 13 of the part 2 of the coupling in such position thatit is opposed to and bears against the metal ring 17 when the parts ofthe coupling are united, and the end of the wire 8 corresponding to thispart of the coupling is carried through an insulating-bushing 21, setinto the abutment 13, and has a flexible metallic strip 22 secured toits end and supported and insulated by said bushing, which stripprojects through a hole formed in the rubber ring 19 and lies flatagainst its outer face. Thus when the parts of the coupling are screwedtogether said strip is brought in contact with the metal ring 17 and issupported and held against the same by the rubber ring 19, which acts asa yielding backing therefor, and thus provides at the same time apacking to prevent the escape of water, a yielding backing for the metalterminal strip 22, and an efficient insulation therefor. Lest the rubberring 19 be rotated by friction when the parts of the coupling arescrewed together, and thus be drawn off the terminal strip 22, I providemeans for preventing such rotation, such as apin 23, secured to theabutment 13, on which the ring 19 rests and projecting into a holeformed therein.

By the construction just described the circuit-wires S are kept whollyout of the waterway of the hose and couplings and for some distance fromtheir ends are incased within the material of the couplings themselves,and thus protected from accident, and therefore from all danger ofhaving their insulation worn off, and thus causing a short circuit.

The contact-terminals also are wholly outside of the waterway of thehose and when in contact are completely surrounded by and embedded ininsulating material, so that a short circuit is rendered impossible.Also the metallic strip 22 is always certain to make an efficientcontact with the ring 17 when the parts of the coupling are united andcannot clog or stick because of dirt or sediment, and thus be renderedinoperative, as springpressed contact-pins such as hitherto used havebeen found liable to do.

In order to make the yielding ring 19 more efficient as a packing-ringto prevent the es cape of water between the parts 2 and 3 of thecoupling, I prefer .to provide a narrow annular groove 24 in theabutment 13, directly beneath and near the inner edge of the ring 19 andunder the cooperating end of the other half of the coupling. As thusconstructed, when the parts 2 and 3 are screwed together and the innerend of the part 3 bears against the ring 19 it compresses the materialof the same into the groove 24, and thus forms a very efficient packingand prevents any leakage of water between the parts 2 and 3. In additionto the groove 2* I sometimes provide the ring 19 with an annular rib 25,located near its outer edge, the end of the halfcoupling 3 outside ofthe ring 17 being rounded or beveled, as at 26, so that it will fitinside of the rib 25 and expand it outwardly when the parts of thecoupling are screwed together, thus forming a tight packing on this sidealso of the ring 19. These features of my invention may be applied tocouplings which are not provided with electrical connections and stillbe useful as a packing. Also the loops 10 and the circumferential coils11 may be used independently of each other, and either or both of themmay be used in couplings provided with differentlyconstructedcircuitterminals, as will be evident.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In a device of the character described, thecombination of a half-coupling and a conducting-wire electricallyconnected thereto and leading therefrom along a length of attached hose,said wire having a portion of its length between its attached end andthe length of hose looped sufficiently to provide for the separation ofthe hose and coupling without breaking the connection between the latterand said wire, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of ahalf-coupling provided with a contact-terminal, and a conducting- Wiresecured to said terminal and leading therefrom along a length of hoseattached to said half -coupling, said wire having a circumferential coillocated between its terminal and the length of hose, for the purpose setforth.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of ahalf-coupling provided with a contact-terminal,and conducting-wireselectrically connected tosaid half-coupling and contact-terminalrespectively and leading therefrom along an attached length of hose,each'of said wires having a portion of its length between its attachedend and the length of hose looped or coiled sufficiently to provide forthe separation of the hose and coupling without breaking the connectionsbetween said Wires and the parts to which they are respectivelyconnected, for the purpose set forth.

l. In a device of the character described, the combination of ahalf-coupling provided with a contact-terminal and With acircumferential groove, a conducting-wire secured to said terminal andhaving a coil lying in said groove, a length of hose secured to saidhalf-coupling, and apacking-ringlocated between said coil of wire andthe end of said hose.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of ahalf-coupling provided with an annular abutment, a conduct-ingwirecarried through said abutment and insulated therefrom and terminating ina metallic strip, and a yielding ring of insulating material interposedbetween said abutment and the free end of said strip and forming asupport forthe latter.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of ahalf-coupling provided with an annular abutment, a conducting-wirecarried through said abutment and insulated therefrom and terminating ina metallic strip, and a yielding ring of insulating material interposedbetween said abutment and the free end of said strip and forming asupport for the latter, and means for preventing circumferentialmovement of said ring.

'7. In a device of the character described, the combination ofcooperating half-couplings one of which is provided with an abutment, aconducting-Wire carried through said abutment and insulated therefromand terminating in a flexible, metallic strip, a yielding cushion ofinsulating material interposed between said abutment and said strip andforming a support for the latter, and a contact-terminal carried by theother half-couprespectively, substantially as set forth.

9. In a device of the character described, a

contact-terminal comprising a substantially rigid ring of insulatingmaterial, a metal ring embedded therein and flanged at its outer edge toprovide a contact-surface, and a conducting-wire leading therefromthrough said insulating-ring, for the purpose set forth.

10. In a device of the character described, a

half-coupling provided withan internal, an-'n'ularabutment,aninsulating-ring supported thereon, a metal ringembedded in said insulating-ring and having a flange at its outer end,and a conducting-wire passed through the insulating-ring and itssupporting-abutment-and secured at its end to said flange,

substantially as described.

11. -In a device of the character described, in combination, twocooperating half-couplings one of which is provided with aninsulating-ring having an annular conductingring secured to its edge andconnected to a conducting-wire, the other half-coupling being providedwith an annular'abutment, an

insulating-bushing secured thereon, a con ducting-wire passing throughsaid bushing and terminating in a metallic strip, and a yielding ring ofinsulating material located between said strip and abutment and forminga support for said strip, described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day ofNovember,

GEO. G. IVEITZ.

substantially as Witnesses:

E. -D. CHADWIQK, ELLEN F. QoLLINs.

